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B. P. MIMMAGK. GUARD FOR SHUTTER FASTENERS.

(No Model.

Patented Dec. 8, 1891.

" NETED STATES n'rnnr FFIQE.

BERNARD P. MIMMACK, OF IVASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.-

GUARQ FOR SHUTTER-FASTENERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,718, dated December 8, 1891.

Application filed August 15, 1891.

To caZZ whom it may concern: V

Be it known that I, BERNARD P. MIMMAOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guards for Shutter-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for rendering shutters secure against burglars; and the object is to provide a guard to take over and bear upon the latches or hooks of the form ordinarily attached to shutters, which guard is held by the window-sash, whereby the latches or hooks cannot be released from the catches on the window-sill except the window-sash be first raised.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective viewlooking from the interior, with the window-sash broken away to disclose the guard device and shutter-latches; Fig. 2, a section through the shutters, sill, and window-sash; Fig. 3, a top or plan view with the shutters in section; Fig. 4, a similar section to Fig. 2, in which the guard is shown in a vertical position, illustrating an advantage of my invention which will be hereinafter explained; Fig. 5, a section through the shutters and sill, illustrating another advantage of my invention, which will also be pointed out hereinafter; and Fig. 6, a detail perspective view of the guard device detached, also illustrating modifications in the construction thereof.

In the drawings, the letters A A designate the two shutters, provided with the ordinary hooks or latches a a, which engage the catches b 19', secured to the sill B.

The letter O designates the lower rail of the window-sash, which shuts down on the sill.

My guard device comprises a vertical standard portion D, which is connected to the sill C at its lower back or inner edge by a hinge d, and has a fiat base 6, which stands square on the sill. The back side of said standard portion forms a broad flat vertical shoulder f, extending the height of the latter. The hinge d should be flush with this shoulder and should notproject therefrom. A broad flange E extends forward or outward from the upper Serial No. 402,737. (No model.)

end of the standard portion D on the opposite side to the shoulder f. This flange has preferably a slight downward curve, which gives it the appearance of a hook, so that its edge 9 may take over and behind the latches a a on the shutters, and the said flange is broad enough to cover both of said latches at the same time.

In carrying out my invention the guard, as above described, is secured to the sill centrally with respect to the catches b b and latches or hooks to a, as shown in Fig. 3, and is so placed that there will be just space between its rear shoulder f and the shoulder h of the sill for the lower rail C of the windowsash to fit snugly, as shown in Fig. 2. At the same time the guard should be fixed so that its flange E will take over the latches or hooks a a of the shutter.

Window-frames are as a rule of a uniform size, and hence one size of guard device will be adapted for any window. In case there should be a material difference in the width of the sill means may be employed, such as a nut i, screwed into the shoulder f, as shown in Fig. 6, to compensate for such difference and comprise an extension for the said shoulder. This nut would be brought out by turning it, so as to fit snugly against the windowsash, while the guard-flange en gaged the shutter latches or hooks in case the shoulder f did not fit close enough to the sash; or if from shrinkage of the wood-work of the sash or from bad workmanship the sash has any play in the window-frame a thin strip of wood or metal, preferably wedge-shaped, fastened on the outer surface of the sash, would engage the shoulder of the guard, holding the flange down securely over the latches, and at the same time hold fast the sash preventing the rattling noise so common and so annoying in an ill-fitting sash. If it be desired to leave the upper sash down from the top for ventilation, a small hole bored through the sash will admit the introduction from within of a pin which will enter the nut-hole in the standard portion of the guard, efiectually preventing the raising of the lower sash, although it be not fastened to the upper sash.

The application of the invention is as follows: After the shutters are closed with their hooks engaging the catches on the sill the guard is turned down to bring its flange E over and bearing upon both the said hooks or latches a a, (see Figs. 1 and 3,) and the edge 9 behind said hooks. (See Fig. 2. The window is now shut down and the sash-rail C fits closely against the shoulder f, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will thus be seen that it would be impossible to lift the guard up from the shutter-latches without first raising the window. In this way the said latches are socurely guarded against burglarious attempts to release them from the catches on the sill by cutting a slat of the shutters and introducing a hand or tool. As a still further protection the flange E may have downward-extending earsj at opposite ends, as illustrated in Fig. 6, to prevent access to the shutterlatches from either side. lVith the guard properly placed it will be obvious that the above results will be attained.

The peculiar advantages possessed by my device may be stated as follows: It is applicable to any ordinary window Without making any changes in the shutters, latches, sill, or window-sash, and is adapted to the present style of shutter latch or hook. It is so constructed as to engage and hold both latches or hooks at once, thus securing both shutters. It will always be applied, for it will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, that the window cannot be shut down until the guard is turned down to its proper locking position, and hence any one in closing the window must necessarily first secure the blinds.

Another advantage of my construction is that the guard device is not troublesome by requiring continual manipulation when adjusting the shutters, for should it be desired to close the shutters from within or without while the window remains up or when there is a screen in the window, this can be done Without raising and holding the guard, for the sh utter-hooks will readily ride under the edge g of the same, raising the guard themselves, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

I am aware there have been other devices for utilizing the window-sash in securin g sh utter-fastenin gs and I do not, therefore, lay claim, broadly, to such an arrangement; but

\VhatI do claim as my invention, and seek to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A guard for sh utter-fasteners, hinged to the window-sill and adapted to take over and cover the shutter-latches, and means to lock the guard in position over said latches, sub stantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A guard for shutter-fasteners, hinged at its base to the window-sill and comprising a shoulder engaged by the outer side of the window-sash, and a projecting flange to takeover the shutter-latches.

3. A guard for shutter-fasteners, hinged at its base to the window-sill and comprising a shoulder engaged by the outer side of the window-sash, an extension for said shoulder, and a projecting flange to take over the shutterlatches.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD MIMMACK.

W i tnesscs:

L. M. TRIPLETT, FRANK (J. SEVERANUE. 

